Chemotherapy and Oncothermia association

Lower and less toxic doses of chemotherapy by combining it with Oncothermia and complementary treatments.

Modelo EHY-2000 de Oncothermia

Professor Dr. med. Alexander Herzog, Chief-physician, Fachklinik Dr. Herzog, Germany has published a recent clinical study in the Oncothermia journal. He also presented it at the 35th ICHS, Guangzhou, China, 2017. The study explains the results in the use of lower and less toxic doses of chemotherapy when combined with hyperthermia and complementary treatments.

Electro-hyperthermia (Oncothermia) is an important tool for improving the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiation in cancer.

Numerous studies have been published on Oncothermia treatment in cell cultures, in animal experiments, but also in patients. Furthermore, these studies include randomised studies, phase 2 studies, but also many successful case reports that provide evidence for the benefit of Oncothermia.

Methods:

Oncothermy means heating the cancerous tissue up to 42°C (107.6°F). In several experiments, it has been shown that chemotherapy works more efficiently if the temperature of the cancer tissue is increased. There can be a linear or even exponential increase in the activity of cytostatic drugs.

The Oncotherm device with 13.56 MHz and energies up to 150 watts was used. The local treatment takes 1 hour for each session. In addition, such treatment can be repeated frequently (the interval between 2 treatments should be at least 48 hours to avoid thermal tolerance).

Chemotherapy is administered simultaneously with a local Oncothermia session.

Results for a selection of different cancers:

♦ ENT-Cancers:

The standard chemotherapy in these cases would be a rather toxic 5-day programme of cisplatin together with 5-FU as a continuous infusion. Together with oncothermia, a 4-day programme would be sufficient.

♦ Non-small cell lung cancer:

The dosing regimen would follow platinum-based chemotherapy, but the doses of Carboplatin and Gemcitabine or Vinorelbine could be reduced by approximately 20%, if applied together with Oncothermia.

♦ Colorectal cancer:

Chemotherapy protocols in colorectal cancer are mainly the FOLFOX protocol and the Folfiri protocol, which can be combined with Bevacizumab or Cetuximab antibodies. Together with Oncothermia, the dose of Oxaliplatin would be kept at the standard level. Irinotecan could be reduced. 5-FU administered as a chronomodulated treatment at night with 50% of the dose between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. could also be significantly reduced. In addition, Capecitabine can be used together with Oncothermia at a reduced dose.

♦ Ovarian and cervical cancers:

In ovarian and cervical cancer, the standard chemotherapy is Carboplatin and the neurotoxic drug Paclitaxel. Together with Oncothermia, Carboplatin could be combined with a less toxic dose of Cyclophosphamide, which is a drug with potentiation of its activity under hyperthermic conditions.

♦ Breast cancer:

In one study, it has been shown that 70-80% of breast cancer patients respond to a treatment programme with local oncothermia together with moderate doses of chemotherapy.

Reduces toxicity

In conjunction with oncothermia, it is possible to use chemotherapy in more moderate doses. This reduces toxicity. Above all, it helps patients in particular in the palliative situation to preserve quality of life. It also allows for more regular treatments and for a longer period of time which is possibly very important to improve survival times.


Sources:

Herzog A. (2018): Lower and less toxic doses of chemotherapy by combining it with hyperthermia and complementary treatments; Oncothermia Journal 22:46-56

Ascending colon cancer treated with Oncothermia and Chemotherapy

The following is the clinical case of a 63-year-old male patient. The diagnosis is ascending colon cancer with liver metastases. He was treated with chemotherapy, combined with oncothermia.

Diagnosis

In November 2016, he presented with an ascending colon neoplasm. Consequently, he underwent a right hemicolectomy. As a result, the biopsy showed infiltrating adenocarcinoma.

Subsequently, in January 2017, she presented with elevated CEA. A CT scan revealed mesenteric and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy. Multiple liver metastases were also observed, the largest measuring 35 mm.

Treatment

Immediately, in February 2017, he started treatment with chemotherapy (FOLFOX) and 4 sessions of 90-minute oncothermia.

The CT scan of April 2017 showed resolution of the mesenteric and retroperitoneal adenopathies. There was also a significant decrease in the multiple liver metastases, the largest being 14 mm.

Result

Finally a normalisation of tumour markers is detected.


If you wish, you can find more information about colon cancer treated with Oncothermia on our website at this link.

Breast Cancer treated with Chemotherapy and Oncothermia

The following is the clinical case of a 51 year old female patient. The diagnosis is infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the left breast. She was treated with chemotherapy, combined with oncothermia.

Diagnosis

She presented in May 2016 with breast cancer, infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the left breast. Consequently, the MRI shows multiple and extensive irregular confluent foci. In addition, the cancer forms a mass measuring 79 mm x 52 mm x 58 mm extending to the nipple-areola complex with infiltration of the dermis.

Treatment

In June 2016 she started chemotherapy with Paclitaxel and Trastuzumab. Subsequently, in August 2016, oncothermia treatment was started, with 60-minute sessions.

Result

In October 2016 a breast MRI is performed for control, after the administration of 9 sessions of chemotherapy and 6 sessions of 60-minute oncothermia.

The result of the MRI shows disappearance of the tumour mass indicating a complete response to treatment.

Consequently, the patient refuses surgical treatment as there is no tumour mass and continues with radiological controls. In October 2018 the patient has shown no signs of recurrence.


If you wish, you can find more information about breast cancer treated with Oncothermia on our website at this link.

CLINICAL CASE 3:

• BREAST CANCER
• ONCOTHERMIA+ SURGERY

A 41-year-old woman presented in June 2015 a palpable mass in the right breast of 9.3 mm. The biopsy in November 2015 shows infiltrating carcinoma. The patient, due to physical deterioration secondary to intermittent diarrhea of ​​8 years of evolution and phobia of aggressive medical treatments, decides not to do anything and returns to control it in October 2016 by magnetic resonance, whose result shows compatible image with neoformative infiltrating lobular process with nodular component of 16 mm x 9 mm and possible extension in the shape of the dough, reaching about 5 cm in diameter. The patient decides to treat with oncothermia and begins treatment in November 2016: 15 sessions of oncothermia of 1 hour. In February 2017, magnetic resonance was performed, showing a complete disappearance of the mass enhancement and a slight decrease in the nodular component: 15 mm x 8 mm. The patient decides to do nothing and check if there is growth by magnetic resonance every 6 months. Last resonance of July 2018, shows radiological stability and finally decides to undergo surgery to remove the tumor.

Pancreatic Cancer treated with Oncothermia, Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy

The following is a case report of a 72 year old female patient. The diagnosis is pancreatic cancer. She was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, combined with oncothermia.

Diagnosis

She presented in March 2017 with a 4 cm tumour in the neck of the pancreas. In particular, the biopsy shows adenocarcinoma.

Treatment

He could not be resected surgically and started chemotherapy with Folfirinox together with 10 sessions of 90 minutes of Oncothermia.

Subsequently, in July 2017, a control CT scan was performed, showing a tumour reduction of 50%. He then started treatment with radiotherapy plus 10 sessions of 90-minute oncothermia.

Result

A new CT scan in June 2018 showed tumour stability with Ca 19-9 CEA tumour markers within normal limits.


If you wish, you can find more information about pancreatic cancer treated with Oncothermia on our website at this link.

CLINICAL CASE 5:

• BRAIN TUMOR (GLIOBLASTOMA)
• CHEMOTHERAPY + ONCOTHERMIA

A 60-year-old male presented a brain tumor in the left hemisphere in April 2016, showing the biopsy a high-grade glioblastoma multiforme inoperable by size. In July 2016 begins radiotherapy and chemotherapy with temozolamide coinciding with significant clinical worsening, tumor progression and increase in the number of epileptic seizures with more than 7 episodes a day. The patient had a significant decrease in the state of consciousness, total aphasia and right hemiparesis. Given the significant deterioration suffered by the treatment and tumor progression, evicted and without therapeutic options, the family rejects palliative treatment of chemotherapy and decide to perform treatment with oncothermia. In September 2016, she started treatment with oncothermia 60 minutes, 2-3 times / week continuously with some rest periods until March 2018. Throughout the treatment he has shown clinical improvement with improvement of aphasia and coordination. Until March 2018 without tumor progression.

Rectal Cancer treated with Oncothermia and Surgery

The following is a case report of a 67 year old male patient. The diagnosis is rectal cancer. He was treated with oncothermia and surgery.

Diagnosis

He presented with rectal adenocarcinoma in February 2018. In particular, it is a tumour 6 cm from the anal margin occupying one third of the intestinal lumen. In addition, the ultrasound scan showed serosal involvement, and it was classified as stage III.

Treatment

Preoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy are recommended to reduce the tumour volume and perform surgical resection.

In this case, the patient categorically rejects chemotherapy and radiotherapy. On the contrary, he decided to start treatment with Oncothermia, with the aim of reducing the tumour volume and undergoing surgery.

He underwent 20 sessions of 90-minute oncothermia for 2 months, with a frequency of 3 sessions per week.

Result

Ultrasound endoscopy in May 2018 showed a T1 polypoid lesion. In September 2018 he underwent endoanal resection of the polypoid lesion with all the margins of the piece free of tumour.


If you wish, you can find more information about rectal cancer treated with Oncothermia on our website at this link.